Aglaonema plant named ‘TWYAG0005’

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having very dense, leafy, compact and upright branched plant habit, small to intermediate stature, very vigorous growth habit, profuse suckering and produces numerous axillary branches and dominantly green leaves on the upper leaf surface and reddish-green leaves on the lower surface, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor×A. rotundumhybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TWYAG0005’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor×A.rotundum hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘TWYAG0005’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in1999 in Bogor, Indonesia. The female parent was an unknown individualplant of A. commutatum var. tricolor (patent status unknown), while themale parent was an unknown individual plant of A. rotundum (patentstatus unknown).

The new cultivar was created in Bogor, Indonesia and has been asexuallyreproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and sucker division inApopka, Fla. and Bogor, Indonesia over a 5-year period. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in theEuropean Union in early September 2007. ‘TWYAG0005’ has not been madepublicly available more than one year prior to filing of thisapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Apopka, Fla. and Bogor, Indonesia.

-   -   1. Small to intermediate in stature;    -   2. Dense, leafy, compact and upright branched plant habit;    -   3. Leaves are dominantly green in color on the upper surface and        reddish green on the lower surface;    -   4. Profuse suckering;    -   5. Very vigorous growth habit; and    -   6. Produces numerous axillary branches and leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Aglaone a plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show overall plant habit. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the new plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper and lower surface of the mature leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘TWYAG0005’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inApopka, Fla. The plant history was taken on 16-month old plants startedfrom a single 4-leaf rooted cutting, still in a vegetative state andgrown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20-cm pots andgrown in a greenhouse in May 2006. The average daily temperature wasabout 85° to 95° F. and the average nightly temperature was about 65° to78° F. The plants were pinched twice. Color readings were taken undernatural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Araceae        -   Botanical.—Aglaonema commutatum var. tricolor×A. rotundum            hybrid.        -   Cultivar name.—‘TWAG0005’.        -   Common name.—Chinese Evergreen.-   Parentage: The female parent is an unknown individual plant of A.    commutatum var. tricolor and the male parent is an unknown    individual plant of A. rotundum.-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Symmetrical, round, wider than tall; leaves lean            outward.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Densely leafy, compact; upright            branched growth habit (basal branching); small to            intermediate in stature; very vigorous growth habit; plants            produce numerous axillary branches and leaves.        -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane).—28 cm to 32 cm.        -   Diameter (area of spread, measured from leaf tip to leaf tip            across the canopy).—43 cm to 50 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—16-months starting from a            single 4-leaf rooted cutting and pinched twice.        -   Growth rate.—More rapid than typical Aglaonema cultivars.        -   Root description.—Abundant, fleshy white roots with finer            lateral branches.        -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About 6 to 10,            4-leaf cuttings per year.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Leaves hold up well            against damage from shipping and handling; plant is durable,            excellent indoor keeping quality.        -   High temperature tolerance.—To about 104° F. for several            hours without damage.        -   Low temperature tolerance.—To about 55° F. for several hours            without damage.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—25.        -   Length (from soil line to the junction of the newest two            leaves).—17 cm.        -   Diameter (measured from the midpoint).—1.1 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS 144C to RHS N144D. Mature: RHS 146D            with area of RHS 146A. Oldest stems: RHS 147A.        -   Appearance (shape).—Columnar, cylindrical upright.        -   Aspect.—Vertical, upright.        -   Strength.—Sturdy, strong, somewhat flexible.        -   Axillary buds.—Shape and arrangement: Elliptic, flat,            alternate. Length: 0.4 cm. Width: 0.25 cm. Color: RHS 155A            (white), tinged with RHS 65D (pale-pink).-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate, single leaf per petiole,            simple, arranged in a spiral along the stem.        -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—10.        -   Immature leaf (new expanded leaf).—Color: Upper surface:            Base color much darker and greener than but closest to RHS            147A; Herringbone pattern of between RHS 191A and RHS 189A            (dark silver-green). Lower surface: Entirely between RHS            N186A and RHS 187A, tinged with RHS 147A (green).        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: Base color much darker            and greener than but closest to RHS N189A; Herringbone            pattern with RHS 189A (dark silver-green). Lower surface:            Entirely between RHS N186A and RHS 187A, tinged with RHS            147A (green).        -   Length.—12.5 cm to 16.5 cm.        -   Width.—General: The leaf blade folds upward along the            midrib. Flattened: 7.3 cm to 7.9 cm. Not flattened: 4.0 cm            to 6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Smooth, entire, mostly flat with some broad            undulations.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth; new leaves are shiny; mature            leaves are shiny to glossy; Lower Surface: Smooth; New            leaves are glossy; mature leaves are glossy to dull; the            leaf blade is convex between the main veins giving the leaf            a textured and somewhat puckered appearance.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, radiating outward from the midrib            in a herringbone arrangement.        -   Venation color (immature leaf).—Upper surface: Primary            veins: Between RHS 182D and RHS 63C. Midrib: RHS 65D tinged            with RHS 53D especially near the apex. Lower surface:            Primary veins: RHS 53C. Midrib-proximal: Between RHS 147A            and RHS 148A. Midrib-distal: RHS 51B.        -   Venation color (Mature leaf).—Upper surface: Primary veins:            RHS 191A tinged with RHS 53D. Midrib: RHS 182D flushed with            RHS 185A to RHS 185B especially near the apex. Lower            surface: Primary veins: RHS 185B to 185C. Midrib-proximal:            Much darker than RHS 147A. Midrib-distal: RHS 184C.        -   Petioles.—Aspect: Vertical upright when newly expanded,            becoming curved outward and about 45° with maturity. Length:            7.0 cm. Diameter: Distal: 0.3 cm. Proximal (petiole and            petiole sheath clasps the stem proximally): Flattened:            2.5 cm. Natural diameter: 1.1 cm. Color: Distal: Much darker            than, but closest to RHS 147A. Proximal: Between RHS 147A            and RHS 146B. Area adjacent to stem: RHS 150D tinged with            RHS 146D. Wing length: 5.8 cm. Wing diameter: Mid-point:            0.6 cm. Base: 1.1 cm. Depth: 0.50 cm. Wing color: Inside:            Between RHS 147B and 155C. Outside: Distal: RHS 147A tinged            with RHS 183B. Proximal: RHS 150D tinged with RHS 146C to            RHS 146D. Area adjacent to stem: RHS 155C.-   Inflorescence: None observed.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema; no particular    susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases noted.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘TWYAG0005’ differs from the female parent, an unknown individual plantof A. commutatum var. tricolor plant in that ‘TWYAG0005’ has greenpetioles, while the female parent has light pink petioles. In addition,‘TWYAG0005’ has an elliptical leaf shape, while the female parent has anelliptical to oblong leaf shape.

‘TWYAG0005’ differs from the male parent, an unknown A. rotundum plantin that ‘TWYAG0005’ has an elliptical leaf shape, while the male parenthas an ovate leaf shape. In addition, ‘TWYAG0005’ has profuse suckering,while the male parent has moderate to sparse suckering.

‘TWYAG0005’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Red Gold’ (unpatented)in that ‘TWYAG0005’ has a reddish-green color on the lower surface ofthe leaves, while ‘Red Gold’ has a pale yellowish-green color on thelower surface of the leaves. ‘TWYAG0005’ has profuse suckering, while‘Red Gold’ has moderate to sparse suckering. In addition, the leaf shapeof ‘TWYAG0005’ is elliptical, while the leaf shape of ‘Red Gold’ isbroadly elliptical to ovate-elliptical.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and describedherein.